Struggles and Triumphs · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Struggles and Triumphs by P. T. Barnum.
Chapter 1
Dedication
P. T. Barnum dedicates his autobiography to his wife and family, acknowledging that his life's work has been largely devoted to their interests and service.
Chapter 2
Struggles and Triumphs
Barnum reflects on his life's journey, highlighting the interplay between hardships and successes, and the lessons learned from both.
Chapter 3
Early Life
Barnum recounts his childhood in Bethel, Connecticut, including the family joke about his supposed inheritance of the worthless 'Ivy Island,' his early aversion to manual labor, his clerkship in a country store where he learned about sharp trading and deception, his Sunday school experiences, and the contentious introduction of a stove into the local meetinghouse.
Chapter 4
Incidents and Anecdotes
Barnum recounts his grandmother's death, his father's death and insolvency, his early work as a clerk, his first meeting with Charity Hallett, a humorous misunderstanding over 'Russia' furs, and a scheme to move a pensioner named Uncle Bibbins.
Chapter 5
In Business for Myself
Barnum recounts his early ventures into business, starting with a fruit and confectionery store in Bethel using a small capital of $120. He describes his success on opening day, his expansion into lottery ticket sales, and the formative influence of his store on his character. The chapter also covers his clerkship in Brooklyn and New York, his bout with smallpox, and his courtship with Charity Hallett, including a humorous anecdote about writing a love letter for a friend.
Chapter 6
IV: Struggles for a Livelihood
Barnum recounts his early struggles after moving to New York in 1834-5, including failed business ventures, seeking employment, opening a boardinghouse, and his marriage to Charity Hallett in 1829. He also describes a practical joke involving a bet with Darrow over a whole shirt.
Chapter 7
My Start as a Showman
Barnum recounts his entry into the show business, beginning with the Joice Heth exhibition, which he initially believed to be genuine. He describes his early ventures, including the engagement of Signor Vivalla, his first appearance on stage, and the use of publicity and contests to stimulate public interest. The chapter also covers his connection with Aaron Turner's circus, the hardships of travel, and his reflections on the amusement trade.
Chapter 8
My First Travelling Company
Barnum recounts his early experiences managing a traveling show, including humorous incidents with a stubborn landlord, a clever arithmetic trick played on Turner, and the formation of his own company. He describes hardships such as poor lodging at 'Lady Hayes's' plantation, a trick with a bridge, and a confrontation with a drover. The chapter covers his partnership with Henry Hawley, disbanding and reforming his company, and a sudden marriage arranged to secure a cook. It ends with his arrival in New Orleans.
Chapter 9
At the Foot of the Ladder
Barnum recounts his early struggles and disgust with the itinerant show business, his failed partnership with the swindler Proler, and his various ventures including Vauxhall Garden. The chapter culminates in his determined pursuit to purchase the American Museum, overcoming a rival company through clever newspaper attacks and securing a deal with Mr. Olmsted.
Chapter 10
The American Museum
Barnum describes his aggressive advertising strategies and showmanship techniques to promote the American Museum, including the use of banners, music, Drummond lights, and a mysterious 'brick man' to attract crowds. He also recounts anecdotes about a drunken actor, a model of Niagara Falls with real water, and a humorous exchange with editor Louis Gaylord Clark over a supposed club that killed Captain Cook.
Chapter 11
IX: The Road to Riches
Barnum reflects on the American Museum as the foundation of his fortune, detailing his strategies for attracting the public, including moral dramas, holiday displays, and clever publicity stunts. He recounts a confrontation with St. Paul's vestrymen over hanging flags on the Fourth of July, which he turned into a patriotic victory. The chapter emphasizes his focus on providing affordable, wholesome entertainment to the masses, leading to financial success.
Chapter 12
X: Another Successful Speculation
Barnum recounts his rivalry with Peale's Museum and Henry Bennett's cheap imitations, his abolition of the check system and bar to improve decorum, and the discovery of Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb) in Bridgeport, which led to a highly successful exhibition enterprise.
Chapter 13
XI: General Tom Thumb in England
Barnum recounts his arrival in London with General Tom Thumb, their debut at the Princess's Theater, and the enormous success that followed. He describes taking a mansion in the fashionable West End, hosting levees for nobility, and the eventual royal command performance at Buckingham Palace. The chapter details the General's charming and natural interactions with Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the royal children, as well as the amusing incidents of backing out and fighting a poodle. The visit generated immense publicity, leading to crowded exhibitions at Egyptian Hall and solidifying the General's fame in England.
Chapter 14
In France
Barnum recounts the grand tour of General Tom Thumb through France, detailing the elaborate retinue, clever advertising strategies, and legal battles over exhibition taxes. He describes the General's success in Paris, including performances at the Vaudeville Theater, visits to the royal family at the Tuileries and St. Cloud, and a clever resolution to a tax dispute in Bordeaux by moving the exhibition to Vincennes.
Chapter 15
XIII: In Belgium
Barnum recounts his travels through Belgium with General Tom Thumb, including crossing the border with a lost passport, distributing medals to customs officials, a visit to King Leopold's palace, the theft and recovery of the General's jewels, and a disastrous excursion to the battlefield of Waterloo that ends with Stratton being swindled by a farmer and arriving late for an exhibition.
Chapter 16
XIV: In England Again
Barnum returns to London with General Tom Thumb, who continues his successful levees at Egyptian Hall. He expands the tour to provincial cities, travels by post and rail, and recounts various adventures including hiring an extra train. He visits Warwick and Coventry with Albert Smith, buys a 'Happy Family' exhibit, and returns to the U.S. to negotiate a lease renewal for his Museum with Mr. Olmsted and Mr. A. T. Stewart.
Chapter 17
Return to America
Barnum recounts his return to America after three years in Europe, including a humorous encounter with Anderson the 'Wizard of the North,' a stormy Atlantic crossing with Captain Judkins and Dr. Robert Baird, reflections on religious sects, and anecdotes about the vulgar Simpsons in Europe.
Chapter 18
XVI: At Home
Barnum returns home to Bridgeport, secures a 25-year lease for the American Museum, and reintroduces General Tom Thumb to American audiences. He also opens a Philadelphia Museum, engages in agricultural pursuits, and enjoys domestic life at Iranistan, including a playful rivalry with neighbor James D. Johnson over a deer park.
Chapter 19
The Jenny Lind Enterprise
Barnum details his bold plan to bring the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind to America, including his initial conception in October 1849, the hiring of agent John Hall Wilton, the complex contract with Lind, Benedict, and Belletti, his struggles to raise the necessary funds, and his public announcement of the engagement.
Chapter 20
XVIII: The Nightingale in New York
Jenny Lind arrives in New York amid tremendous public excitement. Barnum meets her for the first time aboard the steamship Atlantic, and she is greeted by thousands at the wharf with triumphal arches and a bower. The first concert at Castle Garden is a massive success, with tickets sold at auction for high prices. Barnum voluntarily revises their contract to give Lind a larger share of profits, and she decides to donate her portion of the first concert proceeds to charity. The chapter also includes the prize ode and various poetic tributes.
Chapter 21
Successful Management
Barnum details the immense head-work and handwork required to manage Jenny Lind's American tour, including orchestrating public opinion through biographies, foreign correspondence, and press coverage. He describes the New York Herald's editorial praising Lind, his letter to John Jay addressing Lind's evil advisers and backbitings, and various incidents highlighting Lind's benevolence, such as giving a $20 gold-piece to a poor girl in Boston. The chapter also covers their visit to Iranistan, a rumor of marriage between Barnum and Lind, and their travels to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington (where Barnum recalls a card game with Senator Foote), Richmond, and Charleston, including a perilous sea voyage. Barnum emphasizes the importance of managing public perception and the success of the enterprise.
Chapter 22
XX: Incidents of the Tour
Barnum recounts various incidents during Jenny Lind's tour, including initial hostility in Havana that turned into triumph, a humorous anecdote about a boy's love of music versus a big hog, a shaving encounter with a superstitious mulatto barber, and a trick involving a missing bag of money.
Chapter 23
XXI: Jenny Lind
Barnum recounts the challenges of managing Jenny Lind's tour, including a surprising attempt by her secretary to cancel the contract. He defends his own generosity and clarifies the true nature of Lind's character, acknowledging her human flaws while praising her charitable impulses. The chapter includes a dedication from Sol. Smith and reflects on the business and moral dimensions of the enterprise.
Chapter 24
XXII: Close of the Campaign
Barnum recounts the final leg of Jenny Lind's American tour, including a visit to the Hermitage, an April Fools' prank on his company, a concert in a pork house, and a ruse in Cincinnati. Upon returning to New York, tensions with Lind's advisers lead to an early termination of their contract after the ninety-third concert, with Lind paying a forfeiture. The chapter concludes with Lind's marriage to Otto Goldschmidt and a statement of the tour's total receipts.
Chapter 25
Other Enterprises
Barnum recounts his various business ventures beyond the American Museum, including his partnership with Seth B. Howes and Sherwood E. Stratton to create a traveling menagerie, an expedition to Ceylon for elephants, and the use of an elephant for plowing on his farm as a publicity stunt. He also describes his encounter with Commodore Vanderbilt, the purchase of Robert Houdin's automaton, the engagement of Lancashire Bell Ringers, and other side shows such as the panoramic diorama of Napoleon's obsequies and the automaton speaker visited by the Duke of Wellington.
Chapter 26
Work and Play
Barnum recounts his presidency of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society, including a humorous incident where he exhibited a captured pickpocket to boost fair attendance. He also shares anecdotes of being unrecognized while overhearing candid remarks about himself, his involvement with Phillips's Fire Annihilator, the Pequonnock Bank, the Illustrated News, and his early skepticism about the New York World's Fair.
Chapter 27
XXV: The Jerome Clock Company Entanglement
Barnum recounts his entanglement with the Jerome Clock Company, which led to his financial ruin. He describes his investment in East Bridgeport, his desire to develop the new city, and how he was deceived by false representations of the clock company's wealth. Despite the crushing defeat, Barnum reflects on the experience as a valuable lesson that ultimately strengthened his character and fortune.
Chapter 28
Clouds and Sunshine
In the wake of financial ruin, P. T. Barnum receives an outpouring of public sympathy and support from friends, neighbors, and prominent citizens. A poem titled 'A Word for Barnum' appears in the Boston Gazette, and a large public meeting is held in Bridgeport to express solidarity. Despite offers of benefits and substantial financial assistance from figures like Cornelius Vanderbilt and William Niblo, Barnum declines them on principle, choosing instead to rely on his integrity and the moral support of his community. He reflects on the lessons of humility and the true value of honor over wealth.
Chapter 29
Rest, but Not Rust
Barnum recounts the sale of his American Museum collection, the harassment of supplementary proceedings by creditors, and his witty retorts in court. He spends a restorative summer on Long Island, where his landlord Mr. Charles Howell shows him a 'natural honk'—a man who imitates wild geese. With a loan from Mr. Wheeler, Barnum begins to rebuild, and in 1857 he sails for England with General Tom Thumb and little Cordelia Howard to earn money and repurchase his estate.
Chapter 30
XXVIII: Abroad Again
Barnum returns to England after a decade, reconnecting with old friends and observing changes in their lives. He finds Albert Smith transformed into a successful showman with a Mont Blanc entertainment at Egyptian Hall. Barnum rekindles friendships with Charles Kean, Otto Goldschmidt, Julius Benedict, and others, while declining offers of financial aid and employment. He continues his own exhibitions featuring Cordelia Howard as Little Eva and General Tom Thumb, working to pay off debts and save his real estate.
Chapter 31
XXIX: In Germany
Barnum travels with General Tom Thumb through Germany, facing bureaucratic hurdles in Paris and at the German border, and capitalizing on the lucrative gambling spas of Baden-Baden, Ems, Homburg, and Wiesbaden. Despite the grim backdrop of gambling-induced suicides, the exhibitions draw huge crowds and high prices, including a visit from the King of Holland. Barnum remits profits to America to reclaim his real estate and settle debts. He encounters a desperate orchestrion maker in the Black Forest, navigates red tape in Frankfort, and endures a slow steamboat on the Rhine before continuing to Cologne, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.
Chapter 32
XXX: In Holland
Barnum recounts his travels in Holland, praising the country's cleanliness, frugality, and industry. He visits museums, acquires curiosities like the Albino family, and reflects on the manufactured humbugs he encounters. Returning to England and then America, he faces financial difficulties from the Jerome Clock Company entanglement, experiences cold shoulders from former friends, and prepares to move back into Iranistan, which is tragically destroyed by fire.
Chapter 33
The Art of Money Getting
Barnum presents his lecture on financial wisdom, emphasizing the importance of newspapers, avoiding outside speculations, not endorsing without security, and practicing true economy. He recounts the successful reception of his lecture in London and his experiences at Cambridge, where he deftly handled interruptions from undergraduates.
Chapter 34
An Enterprising Englishman
Barnum recounts his meeting with an English mill-hand who, inspired by Barnum's autobiography and 'Rules for Moneymaking,' became a successful manufacturer. The man, called Mr. Wilson, credits Barnum for his rise, names his steam engines 'Barnum' and 'Charity,' and later acts as Barnum's agent to measure a French giant. Wilson also sends a giant Simnel cake to the Sanitary Commission Fair in New York during the American Civil War.
Chapter 35
Richard's Himself Again
Barnum returns to the United States in 1859 and, through relentless effort, lectures, Tom Thumb exhibitions, and frugal living, finally extinguishes his clock debts by March 1860. He repurchases the American Museum from Greenwood & Butler, announces his restoration to the public, and receives an outpouring of congratulations from friends, the press, and even former creditors. He reflects on the treachery of a false friend, the steadfast support of James D. Johnson and his wife Charity, and the lessons learned from adversity.
Chapter 36
Menagerie and Museum Memoranda
Barnum recounts his renewed management of the American Museum and his partnership with the legendary bear-tamer 'Grizzly' Adams, whose California menagerie of ferocious bears and other animals became a major attraction. Adams, mortally wounded by his own bears, wagers he can survive ten more weeks to win $500 from Barnum, and ultimately triumphs, only to die soon after. The chapter also includes anecdotes about Stephen A. Douglas's resemblance to Barnum, a barber-shop practical joke on Barnum that became a national story, and the continued financial recovery of the Museum.
Chapter 37
East Bridgeport
Barnum describes the growth of East Bridgeport, his 'pet city,' after the clock failure, highlighting his offer to loan money at six percent to help working men build and own their homes. He details the rapid rise in real estate value, the establishment of major manufactories like Wheeler & Wilson and Winchester Arms, and the creation of Washington Park. He also reflects on his new home Lindencroft and the 'great doctrine of compensations' that turned an apparent evil into a blessing.
Chapter 38
More About the Museum
Barnum recounts various attractions and schemes at the American Museum, including the 'cherry-colored cat' hoax, an expedition to capture live white whales, the acquisition of Commodore Nutt, and visits from Indian chiefs. He details the construction of a large tank for whales, the public excitement, and the confusion between Commodore Nutt and General Tom Thumb.
Chapter 39
Political and Personal
Barnum recounts his involvement in Civil War-era politics and personal safety, including the suppression of a peace newspaper, his support for Elias Howe Jr., and his own precautions against mob violence. He delivers a passionate speech advocating for black suffrage and the abolition of slavery, arguing for equal rights and education regardless of race.
Chapter 40
The American Museum in Ruins
On July 13, 1865, Barnum receives a telegram announcing the total destruction of his American Museum by fire while he is speaking in the Connecticut Legislature. He finishes his speech without showing emotion, then travels to New York to see the ruins. The fire destroyed nearly all of the irreplaceable collection, with only $40,000 in insurance against a loss estimated at $400,000. The safe containing money and account books survived. Newspapers express sympathy and describe the disaster. Barnum initially considers retiring but is encouraged by Horace Greeley to continue. A benefit for Museum employees is held at the Academy of Music, and Barnum soon opens a new uptown Museum.
Chapter 41
My War on the Railroads
Barnum recounts his service in the Connecticut Legislature, including a humorous episode about reducing the number of representatives, a failed effort to build new state houses, and his successful fight to pass a bill protecting commuters from unfair railroad rate changes. He also describes his congressional campaign, where he refused to buy votes, and his eventual defeat.
Chapter 42
XLI: Bennett and the Herald
Barnum recounts his long-standing conflict with James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald, detailing how Bennett's refusal to publish Museum advertisements due to a private business disagreement led to a unified stand by the Managers' Association. The managers withdrew all advertising from the Herald, causing significant financial loss to the paper, while the theaters thrived under Bennett's abuse. Barnum also describes Bennett's failed attempt to renege on a property deal and his own strategy of benefiting from the Herald's attacks.
Chapter 43
Public Lecturing
Barnum recounts his extensive lecture tour across the western United States, his financial recovery through lecturing, his temperance advocacy, and his practice of donating lecture proceeds to charity. He shares anecdotes about his experiences, including a humorous encounter with a woman who expected him to have horns, and his efforts to help his nephew buy a farm. The chapter also details his temperance lectures and the powerful example of Vineland, New Jersey, as a community free from alcohol's ills.
Chapter 44
XLIII: The New Museum
Barnum describes the formation of the Barnum and Van Amburgh Museum and Menagerie Company, the acquisition of the Gordon Cummings African collection, and the sensational arrival of a gorilla. He also recounts his leisure time at the White Mountains, including a footrace trick and his own 'sliver trick' retaliation. The chapter concludes with his agreement to assist Mr. George Wood in opening Wood's Museum in New York.
Chapter 45
XLIV: Curious Coincidences.—Number Thirteen
Barnum explores popular superstitions, particularly those surrounding the number thirteen, and recounts a series of personal anecdotes where he was repeatedly assigned room number thirteen during his Western lecturing tour in 1866. He also discusses superstitions about Friday, Saturday, and rainy Sundays, and shares a story about a Christmas dinner with thirteen guests at the Brettells' in St. James's Palace. A clerical friend later reassures him that thirteen is a lucky number, citing the Thirteen Colonies and biblical references.
Chapter 46
XLV: A Story-Chapter
Barnum shares a collection of anecdotes and humorous incidents from his life, illustrating themes of human nature, practical jokes, and the clash between profession and instinct. Stories include a fire drill interrupting a stage performance, his father's trick with a worthless racehorse, a chiropodist's failed attempt to treat him, Brighton's compromise of sacred music for Sunday trains, and a deacon's milk-selling hypocrisy.
Chapter 47
XLVI: Seaside Park
Barnum recounts his efforts to establish a public park on the Bridgeport shoreline, including purchasing and donating land, raising subscriptions, and overcoming opposition, culminating in the creation of Seaside Park.
Chapter 48
Waldemere
Barnum reflects on his private life and contributions to Bridgeport, describing his efforts to open streets, plant trees, and improve the community. He recounts building his summer home Waldemere and adjacent cottages, his farm with imported Dutch cattle, and his city residence in New York. He concludes with religious reflections on his fifty-ninth birthday, acknowledging divine guidance through past adversities.
Chapter 49
Appendix I: Rest Only Found in Action
After losing his museum, Barnum attempts retirement but finds it unbearable. He launches a massive traveling museum, menagerie, and circus costing nearly three-quarters of a million dollars, which becomes an unprecedented success. The chapter describes the grand procession, the enormous tents, the public's enthusiastic response, and Barnum's warning against imitators trying to deceive the public using his name.
Chapter 50
Appendix II: A Remarkable Campaign
Barnum recounts the immense success of his Great Travelling World's Fair, which grossed over a million dollars in six months despite a heated presidential campaign. He describes his temperance lectures, free political rally offers, and the devastating fire that destroyed his museum and animals. Demonstrating resilience, he immediately plans an even larger show, secures new attractions via cable, and delivers a defiant speech promising to rebuild within three months.
Chapter 51
Conclusion
Barnum recounts the reorganization of his traveling show in early 1872, including the addition of new curiosities, the challenge of transporting an immense exhibition, and his decision to move the entire show by rail despite warnings from his managers about financial ruin.
Chapter 52
Endnotes
This chapter contains endnotes that provide additional context and commentary on earlier parts of the book, including references to local place names, a person named John Fish, and a dispute with the New York and New Haven Railroad Company over a law protecting commuters and the sale of this book.
